System and method for transducing, sensing, or affecting vaginal or body conditions, and/or stimulating perineal musculature and nerves using 2-way wireless communications

ABSTRACT

A system and method are provided for transducing vaginal conditions, affecting vaginal or body conditions, and/or stimulating perineal musculature and nerves. A separate, portable, non-implanted intravaginally containable combination probe and transceiver is provided that can sense vaginal conditions, can deliver signals or medication, and/or can stimulate perineal musculature and nerves. This probe unit is provided with 2-way wireless communication for transmitting information that is transduced and for receiving control and programming signals. In addition, a separate combination controller and transceiver is provided for wirelessly sending signals to the probe unit and for receiving signals therefrom. A real time wireless signal feedback loop is thus provided between the controller and the probe and/or external devices, networks and databases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for transducing vaginalconditions, affecting vaginal or body conditions and/or stimulatingperineal musculature and nerves. The present invention also relates to amethod for accomplishing these functions.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,167, Hochman, discloses a self-contained stimulationdevice that was programmable, prior to use, using control buttons on thesurface of the device itself. Signals could also be emitted from thedevice to an external unit for processing. The drawbacks of this knowndevice include the inability to alter its operation during use. Inaddition, this known device is not very ergonomic due in particular tothe surface control buttons that are necessarily present on the devicefor its programming and operation.

Other vaginally insertable probes are also known, such as the fertilityprobes of U.S. design Pat. No. 393,311 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,173, bothto Kirsner. U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,247, Kirsner, discloses a probe that isconnected by wires to an external housing containing batteries andelectronic circuitry.

Prior known devices fail to provide a system that can providestimulation, deliver medication, and/or obtain physiological dataintravaginally, via a wireless 2-way communication and in real time.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anergonomic system and method that will allow, in a wireless manner and inreal time, the transducing of vaginal conditions, the affecting ofvaginal or body conditions, and the stimulation of perineal musculatureand nerves in the human or other mammalian vagina, and in particularallows for real time remote control and/or programming of theintravaginally contained probe/transceiver unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This object, and other objects and advantages of the present invention,will appear more clearly from the following specification in conjunctionwith the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the probe/transceiver and the controller/transceiverunits respectively of the system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows the probe and controller units in a case; and

FIGS. 4-6 diagrammatically show the micro circuitry for variousexemplary embodiments of the inventive probe and controller units.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The system of the present invention comprises: a separate, portable,non-implanted, intravaginally containable (i.e. in situ yet removable)combination probe and transceiver that is provided with means forsensing vaginal conditions, delivering signals or medication, and/orstimulating perineal musculature and nerves, wherein such probe unit isprovided with 2-way wireless real time communication means fortransmitting information that is transduced and for receiving controland programming signals; and a separate combination controller andtransceiver that is provided with wireless means for sending signals tothe probe unit and for receiving signals therefrom, wherein a wirelesssignal feedback loop is provided between the controller and probe unitsand external devices, networks and databases.

The combination probe and transceiver is, in particular, apre-programmed unit. The programming of this unit can, however, bealtered. As indicated, 2-way communication is provided between the probeunit and the controller unit, which can be a hand-held unit, but couldalternatively or in addition be a PC or other similar computer unit.

The probe of the inventive system contains no wires or similar externalmeans or surface controls, and is therefore comfortable to use.

When the probe unit of the inventive system is used as a stimulationunit, women are provided a safe, easy and convenient way to strengthenand tone their pelvic muscles without professional intervention orspecial training.

In addition, or alternatively, the probe unit of the inventive systemcan be provided with solid state transducers or other sensor means thatwould be able to identify, for example, sexually transmitted pathogens,cancerous changes in the cervix and vaginal environment, metabolicabnormalities, physiological markers of the fertility cycle, and otherphysiological information. It may also be possible in this way toidentify diseases by DNA sequences or by disease-specific molecularodors. The inventive system thus affords the ability of being able toprovide the earliest possible diagnosis and treatment of pathologicalconditions, since it is now possible with the inventive system to obtainintracorporeal physiological information without the need for parenteralor invasive sampling. In other words, physiological information can bewirelessly tracked and monitored, allowing observation and supervisionof metabolic and fertility activities, among others. This can even bedone from a remote site, since the diagnostic data can be wirelesslytransmitted to local hubs, local area networks, personal computers, andthe internet. Thus, the inventive system can provide sophisticateddiagnostic data to the user, to her physician, and to internet-hosteddiagnostic services. Of particular significance is that this transfer ofinformation is accomplished in real time.

Further specific features of the present invention will be explained indetail subsequently.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the inventive system, which isdesignated generally by the reference numeral 20 (FIG. 3), essentiallycomprises two separate straightforward, self-contained units, namely acombination probe and transceiver 21 and a combination controller andtransceiver 22. The required components of these units are integratedand, where appropriate, sealed into these two units. The bodies of theunits 21,22 are made of a plastic, such as those approved for medicaluse by the Food and Drug Administration. An example of such a plastic ismedical grade level polycarbonate.

Although, as indicated previously, the inventive system 20 has numerousapplications, including sensing or transducing vaginal conditions,affecting vaginal or body conditions, and/or stimulating perinealmusculature and nerves, the system will now be explained in conjunctionwith use as a stimulation system.

When the system 20 is used as a stimulation system, the combinationprobe and transceiver unit is characterized as a stimulator unit. In onespecific embodiment of the present invention, such a stimulator unit isless than 1 inch in diameter and less than 4 inches in length. The end24 of the unit 21 is rounded to facilitate vaginal insertion. Theopposite end of the unit can be provided with, for example, an eyelet 25to which a cord or similar device can be attached to facilitate removalof the reusable unit. The body of the unit is provided with at least oneelectrode ring 26 (two such rings are shown in the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1), with these electrode rings being flush with theouter surface of the unit. The electrode rings 26 are designed todeliver electrical pulses to the muscles and/or nerves of the pelvicfloor, and are preferably metallic rings, although they could also bemade of non-metallic conducting material such as doped silicon. Thestimulator unit 21 is furthermore provided with a microprocessor, aradio transmitter and a receiver mounted on a circuit board, an antennaand a sealed battery, as will be discussed in detail subsequently.

The operation of the combination probe and transceiver in its functionas a stimulator unit will now be described by way of example. To begin asession, a woman would remove the hand-held combination controller andtransceiver (the control unit) 22 and the stimulator unit 21 from theholder or case 28 (see FIG. 3), which also includes a tester 27 for theprobe or stimulator unit. The stimulator unit 21 is then inserted intothe vagina. The stimulator unit 21 can be turned on automatically at alow level when it is removed from the case 28; this can be accomplished,for example, either by a signal from the control unit 22 or can betriggered by a non-illustrated magnet located in the case 28. Althoughautomatic powering up is preferred, the stimulator unit 21 can also beturned on manually using the on/off button 30 of the control unit 22.

The stimulator unit 21 can operate entirely automatically by beingpreprogrammed. For example, the unit can start at a low level of about 2volts, can hold this voltage for approximately 30 seconds or any otherdesired period of time, and can then automatically ramp up to, forexample, 5 volts. The stimulator unit 21 could also be operated manuallyby the control unit 22, or the control unit could be used to overridethe programmed stimulator unit 21. For example, the hand-held controlunit 22 can be used to increase the stimulation strength in small stepsuntil a user feels the muscles contract. This would be accomplished byusing the Increase button 31. Should the woman feel any discomfort, shecan decrease the strength of stimulation by pushing the Decrease button32, or can turn the system off by pushing the OFF button 30. The systemcan be programmed to run for a specified period of time, for example infifteen minute cycles, after which it will automatically shut off. Thestimulator unit 21 can then be removed.

During a session, which, as indicated above, could run for approximately15 minutes, the stimulator unit 21 is programmed to follow a pattern ofseveral stimulation cycles, each of which is followed by a rest periodwith a repeat of the set of stimulation cycles and rest periods. Thestimulation patterns are the well known Kegel patterns. The stimulatorunit 21 can be programmed so that it will automatically ramp up to thesetting of a previous use; in other words, the stimulator unit and/orthe control unit 22 is provided with a memory.

To accomplish the various functions of the system 20, namely of thecontrol unit 22 and the stimulator or combination probe and transceiverunit 21, these units are provided with a number of components (see FIG.4). In particular, the stimulator unit 21 and control unit 22respectively include a battery 34, a microprocessor 35, and a radiotransmitter and receiver, or preferably a transceiver 36, 36′ whichincludes an antenna 40, 40′. The radio transmitters and receivers, ortransceivers, of the control unit 22 and of the probe unit 21 areminiature radio transceivers of the same low power class as of the knownremote keyless locking devices used in automobiles. The programmablemicroprocessors of the units are designed to receive signals from theother unit and to deliver signals thereto, all in a wireless signalfeedback loop, which may be closed or interactive. By way of example,electrical stimulation pulses can be delivered to the perinealmusculature via the aforementioned electrode rings 26.

The control unit 22 and the probe unit 21 can also be provided withwireless means to transmit signals to or receive signals from externaldevices, networks or databases, including a PC which may be located in adoctor's office, thereby facilitating data transmission and analysis.

It should also be noted that although the control unit 22 is preferablya hand-held unit, it could also be an appropriately programmed andequipped PC or the like.

As indicated above, the combination probe and transceiver unit 21 can beprovided with means, such as one or more sensors with appropriatecircuitry, for transducing vaginal conditions, delivering signals ormedication, and/or stimulating perineal musculature and nerves. For thispurpose, the combination probe and transceiver 21 is provided with the2-way wireless communication means 36 for transmitting transducedinformation to the control unit 22, external devices, networks ordatabases and for receiving control and programming signals therefrom.Similarly, the control unit or combination controller and transceiver 22is provided with wireless means, such as a transceiver 36′, for sendingwireless signals to the unit 21 and for receiving wireless signalstherefrom. Thus, a wireless signal feedback loop is provided between thecontrol unit 22 and the probe unit 21. Further inventive embodiments areillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In particular, the combination controller and transceiver 22 can includemeans for altering the operational settings of the probe unit 21. Thecombination probe and transceiver 21 can be provided with sensing ortransducing means 38 in the form of a muscle contraction sensor, and theunit 21 can also be provided with medication delivery means. Inaddition, the control unit 22 can be provided with means for alteringstimulation signal levels and/or medication delivery signals.

The combination probe and transceiver unit 21 can also be provided withstimulating means (as in the embodiment of FIG. 4), which can beprogrammed to provide increasing stimulation and/or medication over agiven period of time. The stimulating means can include means forautomatic adjustment of stimulation levels in response to sensed musclecontractions and/or changes in the vaginal environment. Such stimulatingmeans can be remotely adjustable, for example from the control unit 22or from another source.

The combination probe and transceiver unit 21 can also be provided withmeans for sampling cervical fluid, and/or with means for sensingtemperature, pH, secretion viscosity, vaginal pathogens and atypicalcervical cells. The various sensors and transducers can be provided atany suitable location on the probe as long as the ergonomic character ofthe probe is maintained. Where appropriate, the sensors/transducerscould even be in the form of the electrode rings 26.

As indicated previously, the combination probe and transceiver unit 21is a sealed unit.

The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to thespecific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but alsoencompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A system for stimulating pelvic muscles and/or nerves in a mammal, comprising: a portable probe unit, said probe unit comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a substantially smooth and substantially sealed outer surface with a rounded end and so dimensioned as to permit comfortable and repeated insertion into, removal from, and containment entirely within a mammal's vagina; substantially annular means substantially flush with the outer surface of the body of the probe unit and adapted to deliver electrical pulses; a programmable microprocessor; memory; a battery; and two-way communication means with antenna and adapted to both transmit signals to a controller unit and receive signals from said controller unit wirelessly and in real time; and the controller unit comprising two-way communication means adapted to both receive signals from said probe unit and transmit signals to said probe unit wirelessly and in real time, wherein said signals to said probe unit comprise control and programming signals acting as a feedback loop configured to start, stop, and/or alter the activity of the annular means of the probe unit, either automatically or manually, for stimulating pelvic muscles and/or nerves in a mammal.
 2. A system according to claim 1, said probe unit and/or said controller unit further comprising means for transmitting signals to and/or receiving signals from an external device, network, and/or database, wirelessly and in real time.
 3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit is provided with memory.
 4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said probe unit is adapted to be programmed to start and/or stop delivery of electrical pulses after a predetermined period of time.
 5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said probe unit is adapted to be programmed to deliver cycles of alternating electrical pulses and rest periods.
 6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said probe unit is adapted to be programmed to deliver electrical pulses of varying strengths.
 7. A system according to claim 1, said probe unit further comprising means for sensing a vaginal condition.
 8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said probe unit is adapted to be programmed to adjust its delivery of electrical pulses in response to a sensed vaginal condition.
 9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said probe unit is adapted to deliver medication.
 10. A system according to claim 1, said probe unit further comprising means for facilitating removal of the probe from a mammal's vagina.
 11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said probe unit is less than one inch in diameter and less than four inches in length.
 12. A system according to claim 1, wherein said probe unit and said controller unit are adapted to be held together, and wherein separation of said probe unit and said controller unit causes said probe unit to turn on.
 13. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a tester for said probe unit.
 14. A system according to claim 13, further comprising a holder adapted to hold said probe unit, said controller unit, and said tester.
 15. A system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit is adapted to be hand-held.
 16. A system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit is adapted to permit manual operation and control of said probe unit.
 17. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means of said controller unit for wirelessly altering integrates a battery, transceiver, antenna, memory and a microprocessor.
 18. A system according to claim 1, wherein said probe unit contains no surface controls.
 19. A system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit also includes, integrated with said two-way communication means, a programmable microprocessor, battery and antenna.
 20. A system according to claim 1, wherein said microprocessor of said probe unit is a programmable microprocessor.
 21. A system according to claim 1, wherein said two-way communication means of said probe unit and said controller unit are in the form of transceivers. 